EPA CAUSES COAL COMPANY TO LAY OFF NEARLY 500 MINERS

December 11, 2009

A Pittsburgh-based coal company, CONSOL Energy, will lay off nearly 500 of its West Virginia workers next year. CONSOL Energy's political problems are not unique to the mining industry, which has suffered under the Obama Administration, says the Washington Times.

It is challenging enough to operate CONSOL'S coal and gas assets in the current economic downturn without having to contend with a constant stream of activism in rehashing and reinterpreting permit applications that have already been approved or in the inequitable oversight of our operations.

Customers will grow reluctant to deal with energy producers they perceive are unable to guarantee a reliable supply due to regulatory uncertainty; this inhibits the ability to remain competitive.